Taranaki Daily News

Consider the facts

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Parliament, having approved the End of Life Bill, now intends to call a referendum at the next election. Many of the proposals will be obnoxious, but anyone voting will need to soberly consider the real facts. The real facts are freely available to all in God’s book, the Bible.

Death came into this world in consequenc­e of man’s disobedien­ce and has passed on all (Romans

5:12). Jesus Christ, sinless, became obedient unto death to bear the penalty for all who put their trust in Him. By this means, we can be reconciled to God (Romans 5:10). The power of death is broken for the believer and its fear taken away (Hebrews 2:14 and

15).

The parable of Luke 16 draws aside the curtain to the next world. It gives us a vivid picture of two men’s entrance there. The first dying in faith is received above to lasting peace and joy. The other is seen in suffering, having left God out of his life here. There is no way out of that place.

God as Creator has constitute­d us, spirit, soul and body. In death, the body goes to corruption and dust. Soul and spirit live on. All three are reunited in resurrecti­on. There will be two separate resurrecti­ons, one for the just and one for the unjust. We will all be raised. Which one will be by whether we have received or rejected God’s gospel (John 5: 28-29).

Matthew’s gospel assures us as to little children who die before their time. They will not be lost. There will be salvation for them in the power of the shed blood of Christ (Matthew 18:11).

Some have hailed this bill as an easy way out. But for many it could be a cruel decision. The title of the bill is a misnomer; death is not the end of life. Eric Biss, New Plymouth

 ?? ROSS GIBLIN/STUFF ?? MP Andrew Falloon congratula­tes David Seymour after his End of Life Bill passes.
ROSS GIBLIN/STUFF MP Andrew Falloon congratula­tes David Seymour after his End of Life Bill passes.

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